Sandstone sculpture of 'Tam o'Shanter', by James Thom

Key details

Object number: 3.5024
Date: 1828
On display: Yes
Maker: Thom, James Crawford

Description

This full size seated figure of the character Tam o' Shanter in a fine grained sandstone (freestone) was carved in 1828 by James C. Thom and was the first of upwards of 30 such figures produced by Thom.

James Crawford Thom (1802-1850) born near Tarbolton was a stonemason who was commissioned by David Auld custodian of the Burns Monument in Alloway in 1828 to carve a life sized figure of Tam o' Shanter, having first tried his hand at stone carving at Auld's behest on a Bust of Burns.

This full size seated figure of the character Tam o' Shanter in a fine grained sandstone (freestone) was carved in 1828 by James C. Thom and was the first of upwards of 30 such figures produced by Thom.

This carving and its companion of the character Souter Johnie were taken on an exhibition tour of Glasgow, Edinburgh and London which was well received and raised sufficient funds to enlarge the Monument gardens and house the statues.

Object information

Acquisition

1828

Material

Sandstone

Measurements

Depth: 106(cm)
Height: 149(cm)
Width: 70(cm)

Themes

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